Transcript

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>> North Korea calls him human scum, and a sex criminal to boot. Pyongyang on Saturday making its first official comment on the defection of its deputy ambassador in London, the country's official news agency not identifying the diplomat by name. But there's no doubt who they mean. Thae Yong Ho is the highest level diplomat ever to defect to the West.

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Pyongyang says he was going to be summoned home to face charges of embezzlement, spying, and child rape. It says Britain has tainted its image by allowing him to flee. Following his defection, Thae arrived in Seoul earlier this week with his family. One man who defected earlier sets out what he can expect.

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>> To live here, of course, everybody needs a job and the South Korean government offers jobs to people but not all, of course.>> Now analysts are watching to see if anyone follows Thae west. The overall number of defectors from the North has actually fallen in recent years.

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But more members of the country's elite have been choosing to make their escape. Little wonder if that has Pyongyang rattled.